Posted by
Chad MacINNES on Tuesday, October 14, 2008 3:53:27 PM
How and Why Barack Obama’s Lifelong Immersion in Extreme Socialist Ideology Has Shaped His Worldview and Agenda for Our Country
Part II: Socialists, Marxists and Communists for Obama
In his incontestable star-power, Obama is a uniquely American phenomenon: a highly charismatic man and gifted orator who can deliver a prepared speech extremely well, who began life with little and is now a multi-millionaire running for the most powerful elected office in the world. It is, in a very true sense, a story that could really only happen in America, which is sadly ironic because he is a man who hates America as it is. In fact, his love-hate relationship with America and his ideal of America is a prime example of the dichotomy that is Barack Obama. He despises America as it is; yet he says he loves America at every campaign stop. He is not lying, per se, but is withholding the whole truth of his belief about America. When he says he loves America, what he is saying is that he loves America as he envisions it becoming once it succumbs to even more socialist ideology and policy and moves ever more decisively toward becoming the socialist utopia he has dreamed of since his youth.
Socialism is the fundamental change he wishes to bring to America, yet in preparing to do so he must operate stealthily and speak in vagaries, because he knows full well that if he were to openly speak of such things that are well understood to be core socialist principles even many of his own party would abandon him for fear of such ideology, and rightly so. Yet he does, in a sense, speak freely of such things, as he cannot help but to do so. He speaks in a manner employing specific words and phrases with double meanings, meanings that could be understood as well-intentioned and benign, yet clearly understood by those of a decidedly socialist bent as being code for pronouncing his unwavering commitment to core socialist principles. For example, phrases such as “economic justice” are defined by the campaign as meaning something to help the poor, while that same phrase is clearly understood by the far left as well as the far right, though much less enthusiastically, as referring to the basic socialist principle of massive redistribution of wealth through heavy progressive taxation.
Indeed Obama’s life is filled with radical acquaintances, friends, and mentors who were or are not only avowed socialists, but also some who were known and admitted Communists and members of the Communist Party, USA, a front for Moscow during the Cold War, who worked aggressively to further the Communist cause in the US. In fact, even today Obama has found favor with the extreme left, as evidenced by the section of his website named “Marxists/Socialists/Communists for Obama.” The link is here: http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/MarxistsSocialistsCommunistsforObama. Here is the description of this section:
“This group is for self-proclaimed Marxists/Communists/Socialists for the election of Barack Obama to the Presidency. By no means is he a true Marxist, but under Karl Marx's writings we are to support the party with the best interests of the mobilization of the proletariat. Though the Democratic Socialists of America or the Communist Party of America may have more socialististic values, it is pointless to vote for these candidates due to the fact that there is virutally no chance they will be elected on a National level. The members of this group are not Leninists, Stalinists, etc. and do not support or condone the actions of North Korea, China, Cuba or any other self-procalimed "Marxist States." They do not in anyway represent the Marxist philosophy nor do they represent Socialism/ Communsim. We support Barack Obama because he knows what is best for the people!”[1]
One would think that a man who campaigns as a “mainstream” American who shares typical American values and beliefs would shudder at a public endorsement by Marxists and socialists on his official campaign website. It is important to note that the above is not an official endorsement by the CPUSA or the Democratic Socialists of America, as these to not officially endorse major party candidates.
Obama’s ties to the extreme left can be easily traced back to his earliest political races, and even prior to that. In fact, in one glaring example of Obama demonstrating his solidarity with the far left and their socialist agendas, the Investors Business Daily notes in an article published on August 20, 2008 in a multi-part series on Obama’s links to socialism that:
“In 1995, he sought the endorsement of the New Party for his 1996 state Senate candidacy. The party — a collection of anti-capitalist ex-communists and socialists that disbanded in 1998 after six years of trying to push the Democratic Party even further left — gladly gave Obama its support.”
“Obama also was endorsed in that election by the Democratic Socialists of America, the largest socialist group in the U.S. While the name might sound benign, the DSA has a poisonous agenda. Its goal is to establish ‘an openly socialist presence in American communities and politics’ and is committed to ‘restructuring society.’”[2]
The same piece aptly concludes, “these groups usually reserve their endorsements and support for fringe candidates, not someone from a major party. That's not the case this time around. They seem to have their man.”[3]
In visiting the Democratic Socialists of America website, they immediately state their purpose:
Democratic Socialists believe that both the economy and society should be run democratically—to meet public needs, not to make profits for a few. To achieve a more just society, many structures of our government and economy must be radically transformed through greater economic and social democracy so that ordinary Americans can participate in the many decisions that affect our lives.[4]
In a part of the DSA website entitled, “Where We Stand: the political perspective of the Democratic Socialists of America,” is found a document that states their purpose and intent. It is a concise summary of their particular bent of socialist worldview. Section 4 of this document is entitled, “A Strategy for the Next Left.” It begins thus:
Socialists have historically supported public ownership and control of the major economic institutions of society -- the large corporations -- in order to eliminate the injustice and inequality of a class-based society, and have depended on the organization of a working class party to gain state power to achieve such ends. In the United States, socialists joined with others on the Left to build a broad-based, anti-corporate coalition, with the unions at the center, to address the needs of the majority by opposing the excesses of private enterprise. Many socialists have seen the Democratic Party, since at least the New Deal, as the key political arena in which to consolidate this coalition, because the Democratic Party held the allegiance of our natural allies. Through control of the government by the Democratic Party coalition, led by anti-corporate forces, a progressive program regulating the corporations, redistributing income, fostering economic growth and expanding social programs could be realized.[5]
Section 5 is called “the Role of Electoral Politics,” and states, in part:
Democratic socialists reject an either-or approach to electoral coalition building, focused solely on anew party or on realignment within the Democratic Party. The fundamental task of democratic socialists is to build anti-corporate social movements capable of winning reforms that empower people. Since such social movements seek to influence state policy, they will intervene in electoral politics, whether through Democratic primaries, non-partisan local elections, or third party efforts.
Much of progressive, independent political action will continue to occur in Democratic Party primaries in support of candidates who represent a broad progressive coalition. In such instances, democratic socialists will support coalitional campaigns based on labor, women, people of color and other potentially anti-corporate elements.
Electoral tactics are only a means for democratic socialists; the building of a powerful anti-corporate coalition is the end. Where third party or non-partisan candidates mobilize such coalitions, democratic socialists will build such organizations and candidacies. However, to democratize U.S. electoral politics - whatever its party form -requires serious campaign finance reform both within and without the Democratic Party.[6]
Finally, section 6 of the document is entitled, “The Role of Democratic Socialists,” and states in part:
The founding document [of the DSA] called for carrying out a strategy and program that were already the mainstays of mass liberalism, but moving this broad liberal coalition considerably to the left. DSA's new document points in another direction, toward the founding of a new progressive movement...a next Left.
The success of global capitalism demands that traditional democratic standards of justice, equality, and decency be undermined. [Emphasis mine] For the simple dream of a comfortable standard of living, of community, and of equity to be realized, radical political, economic, and social changes in the established order are required.
The belief is widespread that we stand at the beginning of a new political era -- that the Left must create a new vision and a new mission rooted in a new sense of purpose. Democratic socialists have an historic opportunity and responsibility to play a central role in the founding of a next Left, and DSA is prepared to meet this challenge.[7]
It is glaringly obvious that that the DSA, just as any true socialist organization, operates via an ”ends justify the means” philosophy. It is also clear that while they would prefer to remain a “third party” entity and amass power and influence by building their own organizations and extending their own power base, that they readily acknowledge the improbability of being able to do so. Thus they recognize the necessity of operating within an already existing power base and legitimately recognized third party unstained by the stigma of the images that the word “socialist” conjures up. They therefore are open to, if not enthusiastic about, operating within the major political party with which they can most closely ideologically identify, that being the Democrat Party. The DSA is realistic in its assessment that at times even Democrat candidates will be at odds with the socialist principles being advanced by the DSA, but are willing to wait for those candidates to come along with whom they can most closely identify and who will likely be more sympathetic to the socialist cause.
To that end, the Democratic Socialists of America are more excited and optimistic about the 2008 Presidential election than they have been in recent memory. They are so excited that they have released a statement on the 2008 Presidential Election that offers encouragement to the DSA Party faithful regarding the prospects of an Obama Presidency. Though neither the DSA nor the CPUSA will actively officially endorse or campaign for even a far left Democrat, they will support him because they understand the reality that the political scene in the United States is such that such candidates are their best hope to manipulate and influence the system to conform to its radical agenda.
[1] http://my.barackobama.com/page/community/group/MarxistsSocialistsCommunistsforObama.
[2] Finding Friends On Far, Far Left By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Wednesday, August 20, 2008
[3] Ibid.
[4]http://www.dsausa.org/dsa.html
[5]http://www.dsausa.org/about/where.html
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.